me out. i looked at the line and did such a double take that i swore it was a misprint. akron is laying 7 points tomorrow? what the fu/ck? vegas has that much faith in the young zips to rebound from their collapse against wmu with a convincing victory over one of the better teams in the conference? does this look way off to anyone else? not saying i want to play niu necessarily. just saying i expected that line to be akron -2 or -3
spang.....hellah....tease....et al....your turn to help...
- Thread starter gman2
- Start date
Marcus Smallwood...PJ Smith...a good solid D...
Im taking NIU outright here...Akron finds ways to lose...they can be up 50 and still lose. NIU hasnt proven much on the road...but damn, this Akron team DOES NOT PLAY DEFENSE!
And when Akron plays a team with defense...like Western Michigan...they get pounded like a bitch cuz they cant have their full court high speed offense going...
Im taking NIU outright here...Akron finds ways to lose...they can be up 50 and still lose. NIU hasnt proven much on the road...but damn, this Akron team DOES NOT PLAY DEFENSE!
And when Akron plays a team with defense...like Western Michigan...they get pounded like a bitch cuz they cant have their full court high speed offense going...
Well, That opening line was a bit surprising wasn't it. I had the Zips at four, and suspect that it will close at 5 or 5'.
I don't know if you saw my response to your "same old zips" thread saturday, but fact is that the Zips did not perform badly at all in that game. Pull up the box and see for yourself. Sure, WMU came back from 15 down in the first half but WMU earned every bucket and shot close to 70% in the 2nd half. It did not matter if Reed was double teamed and had 4 hands in his face, everything he threw up went in. It is true however that the young Zips need to learn how to finish a game. They did get far out of sync with the ball in the last 10 minutes . Bottom line is that if they had made their free throws and not missed about 5 layups they would have beaten WMU and everybody would be singing their praises.
I think that the major strength of NIU is Smallwood inside, and the Zips have plenty of bulk inside to pose significant matchup problems for him. NIU guard Smith however may exploit the defensive weakness of the Zips guards.
Not to be overlooked is that NIU has not quite lived up to early expectations,and that Akron has owned NIU ,going 6-0 SU & ATS in the last 6 outings.
Yes I think the Zips can bounce back, but to lay 7 is unthinkable to me.
I don't know if you saw my response to your "same old zips" thread saturday, but fact is that the Zips did not perform badly at all in that game. Pull up the box and see for yourself. Sure, WMU came back from 15 down in the first half but WMU earned every bucket and shot close to 70% in the 2nd half. It did not matter if Reed was double teamed and had 4 hands in his face, everything he threw up went in. It is true however that the young Zips need to learn how to finish a game. They did get far out of sync with the ball in the last 10 minutes . Bottom line is that if they had made their free throws and not missed about 5 layups they would have beaten WMU and everybody would be singing their praises.
I think that the major strength of NIU is Smallwood inside, and the Zips have plenty of bulk inside to pose significant matchup problems for him. NIU guard Smith however may exploit the defensive weakness of the Zips guards.
Not to be overlooked is that NIU has not quite lived up to early expectations,and that Akron has owned NIU ,going 6-0 SU & ATS in the last 6 outings.
Yes I think the Zips can bounce back, but to lay 7 is unthinkable to me.
A Good read from Terry Pluto....
A Good read from Terry Pluto....
Loss doesn't diminish hope for Zips
By Terry Pluto
I know, Akron lost.
I also know that it's been a long time since Akron basketball was this much fun.
I know, Akron had a 15-point lead over Western Michigan in the first half.
I also know Western Michigan is a terrific team, with an 8-1 record after Saturday's 83-75 victory over the Zips at Rhodes Arena. I know that Western has wins over Southern California, Arizona State, Miami and Alabama-Birmingham.
I know that Akron lost to an experienced team that was 20-11 last year and has all its key players back.
I also know the Zips couldda won this game.
Not shouldda... couldda.
There's a difference.
To beat a savvy, share-the-ball team like Western, Akron had to play the same way. It needed help from the veterans. It needed to make free throws. It needed to play at an elite Mid-American Conference level.
I know that they didn't.
In many ways, the Zips are like the Cavaliers. LeBron James would probably tell you that, as he was among the 2,819 fans.
The Zips just aren't ready to beat a team like this. Maybe in a few months. Very possibly next season.
But I know this was a not-there-yet game for the Zips.
I know that freshman Romeo Travis had his best game of the season with 15 points and 12 rebound. That should have been a lot to make James smile as he watched his old St. Vincent-St. Mary teammate probably play his way into the starting lineup in the very near future.
I know that freshman Dru Joyce III was steady with five points, five assists and only two turnovers in 28 minutes.
I know that Joyce and Travis are not just James' high school creations, that playing all those big games against premier competition gives them far more poise than most freshmen.
I know that it's great that Akron is playing three true freshmen -- Jeremiah Wood, Travis and Joyce.
I also know that freshmen are still freshmen, that they're still searching for their identity as players, and sometimes, they will miss free throws.
I know that Travis and Wood were a combined 7-of-15 from the foul line.
I also know Western coach Steve Hawkins said, ``Those three freshmen just killed us on the boards.''
I also know Hawkins said, ``With Wood, Joyce and Travis, they have three local kids and they will be something very special.''
I know Hawkins is right.
I also know the only senior who has been productive is Derrick Tarver, and Western aimed its defense to control him. Tarver had 18 points, and most were tough to get.
I know that this was a game in which Andy Hipsher could have been a real asset, but he couldn't play the final eight minutes because of back pain. I know that few players would even have been on the court with all the back miseries and surgeries Hipsher has endured at Akron.
I know Zips fans have never seen the real Hipsher, the one who was the 1999 Beacon Journal Player of the Year when he was at Hoban and being recruited by the likes of Indiana and other Big Ten schools.
I know that I've never seen a player at Akron lose his game as has been the case with senior guard Johnny Hollingsworth. He had five points and six assists in 23 minutes without a turnover, and this was one of his best games this season.
I also know Hollingsworth was a 17-point scorer for the Zips last season, a 50 percent shooter, a guy who made big plays when it meant the most.
I know he's averaging 4.6 points, shooting 6-of-29 from the field. I know I have no idea what happened, other than he had a tough summer in which a couple of close friends died and he just seems in a funk.
I know that Akron is 6-3 this season, and with the old Hollingsworth combining with the new talent, the Zips would be a contender in the MAC. Now, I don't know if that will happen, especially if Hipsher's back troubles continue.
I know that I like to watch them play, that I've been to three games and enjoyed them all. I know that Wood is relentless on the boards, that Travis actually likes to play defense, that Joyce can become a very effective point guard.
I know, Akron lost.
I also know that won't always be the case, that this team will win a lot more than they lose and be building a strong team for the future at the same time. And I know that I'm more than OK with that.
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A Good read from Terry Pluto....
Loss doesn't diminish hope for Zips
By Terry Pluto
I know, Akron lost.
I also know that it's been a long time since Akron basketball was this much fun.
I know, Akron had a 15-point lead over Western Michigan in the first half.
I also know Western Michigan is a terrific team, with an 8-1 record after Saturday's 83-75 victory over the Zips at Rhodes Arena. I know that Western has wins over Southern California, Arizona State, Miami and Alabama-Birmingham.
I know that Akron lost to an experienced team that was 20-11 last year and has all its key players back.
I also know the Zips couldda won this game.
Not shouldda... couldda.
There's a difference.
To beat a savvy, share-the-ball team like Western, Akron had to play the same way. It needed help from the veterans. It needed to make free throws. It needed to play at an elite Mid-American Conference level.
I know that they didn't.
In many ways, the Zips are like the Cavaliers. LeBron James would probably tell you that, as he was among the 2,819 fans.
The Zips just aren't ready to beat a team like this. Maybe in a few months. Very possibly next season.
But I know this was a not-there-yet game for the Zips.
I know that freshman Romeo Travis had his best game of the season with 15 points and 12 rebound. That should have been a lot to make James smile as he watched his old St. Vincent-St. Mary teammate probably play his way into the starting lineup in the very near future.
I know that freshman Dru Joyce III was steady with five points, five assists and only two turnovers in 28 minutes.
I know that Joyce and Travis are not just James' high school creations, that playing all those big games against premier competition gives them far more poise than most freshmen.
I know that it's great that Akron is playing three true freshmen -- Jeremiah Wood, Travis and Joyce.
I also know that freshmen are still freshmen, that they're still searching for their identity as players, and sometimes, they will miss free throws.
I know that Travis and Wood were a combined 7-of-15 from the foul line.
I also know Western coach Steve Hawkins said, ``Those three freshmen just killed us on the boards.''
I also know Hawkins said, ``With Wood, Joyce and Travis, they have three local kids and they will be something very special.''
I know Hawkins is right.
I also know the only senior who has been productive is Derrick Tarver, and Western aimed its defense to control him. Tarver had 18 points, and most were tough to get.
I know that this was a game in which Andy Hipsher could have been a real asset, but he couldn't play the final eight minutes because of back pain. I know that few players would even have been on the court with all the back miseries and surgeries Hipsher has endured at Akron.
I know Zips fans have never seen the real Hipsher, the one who was the 1999 Beacon Journal Player of the Year when he was at Hoban and being recruited by the likes of Indiana and other Big Ten schools.
I know that I've never seen a player at Akron lose his game as has been the case with senior guard Johnny Hollingsworth. He had five points and six assists in 23 minutes without a turnover, and this was one of his best games this season.
I also know Hollingsworth was a 17-point scorer for the Zips last season, a 50 percent shooter, a guy who made big plays when it meant the most.
I know he's averaging 4.6 points, shooting 6-of-29 from the field. I know I have no idea what happened, other than he had a tough summer in which a couple of close friends died and he just seems in a funk.
I know that Akron is 6-3 this season, and with the old Hollingsworth combining with the new talent, the Zips would be a contender in the MAC. Now, I don't know if that will happen, especially if Hipsher's back troubles continue.
I know that I like to watch them play, that I've been to three games and enjoyed them all. I know that Wood is relentless on the boards, that Travis actually likes to play defense, that Joyce can become a very effective point guard.
I know, Akron lost.
I also know that won't always be the case, that this team will win a lot more than they lose and be building a strong team for the future at the same time. And I know that I'm more than OK with that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call me crazy....but I thought the line was about right!!
Well maybe a small tad excessive because once you get past a 5 point spread you have to dominate the game to feel comfortable.......but I guess I expected about 6 or 6.5.
Cant fault anyone for taking the points here......but I think it is going to be tight......and I think I pulled a few muscles in my asscheeks the past couple nights...especially with Kent State
Good Luck with it!
Well maybe a small tad excessive because once you get past a 5 point spread you have to dominate the game to feel comfortable.......but I guess I expected about 6 or 6.5.
Cant fault anyone for taking the points here......but I think it is going to be tight......and I think I pulled a few muscles in my asscheeks the past couple nights...especially with Kent State
Good Luck with it!
